Cheapest Eastern Europe Destination?

tightandproud

Hi MoneySavers, I've got some friends going a trip round Eastern Europe in August and I'd like to join them, they're planning to go to the following countries for a whole month. Problem is I can only get a week off so will only be able to join them for 1 or 2 of these countries, if I want to really do it on the cheap (think backpacker budget - hostel not camping) which of these would be the cheapest to visit?

Their itinerary: Finland (possibly 2-3 days), Estonia (5 days), Lithuania (5 days), Poland (5 days), Romania (5 days), Czech Republic (5 days), and Hungary (5 days) followed by Macedonia (2-3 days).

Also I'm more of a foodie than a sightseer, which of these countries have the best food?

BritRael

Sounds like a great trip

I've never been to any of these countries, but I'm guessing Finland will be the most expensive.

blue_haddock

Realistically none of them are real 'foodie' destinations. More thick potato and cabbage soup with goulash than a la carte cuisine!

If its food stuff you crave you should definately try Hungary

cro-magnon

I've been to Helsinki in Finland 3 times, it is expensive and the food isn't the best from my experience. A beer was about £3 - £5.

I was in Tallinn, Estonia 4 years ago and it was cheap. A beer was just under £1. Food-wise, all I remember eating out was in a medieval themed place that sold quail and lamprey dishes.

I was in Poland last year and it wasn't as cheap as I'd hoped but I was in Gdansk which I understand is the most expensive city after Warsaw. A beer was about £2 - £3. The food was good though.

I was in Romania last year and it was the cheapest Eastern European country I've been to. Food varied from great to rubbish. If you like Garlic and Chicken go to Vatra in Bucharest! Casa Wagner in Sighisoara should be avoided at all costs though. There are some nice restaurants in Sibiu but the one that we were most looking forward to was completely full on the night we tried.

I was in Budapest, Hungary earlier this year and again it wasn't as cheap as I'd imagined. A beer was about £2 - £3. Though we did see a place (Mister-söröző) that proudly proclaimed to sell beer f0r 125Ft (about 40p!). The food was excellent. They do great cakes too. And the dining experience is a bit more professional than Romania.

Bear in mind that I mainly stick to touristy places in capital cities so it will be cheaper in the smaller towns. Also be aware that if you are vegetarian then your choices will be limited in all these countries.

tightandproud

Thank you for your insights. I'm definitely not a vegetarian so no worries about that! If anything I'm a meatarian so I think I'll do just fine chowing down on epic servings of dead animals Eastern European style!

Romania sounds like the pick so far, the cheaper the better!

Hope I can get a cheap Ryanair fare there.

cro-magnon

Sadly no, they did once fly to Arad from a few Italian airports though.

Wizzair fly there from Luton and we got return national flights from Bucharest to Cluj-Napoca (home of the Cheeky girls ) with Wizzair that cost a mere £5 each!

I'd recommend visiting Sibiu (2007 European city of culture) and Sighisoara (birthplace of Vlad the Impaler "Dracula"). Cluj-Napoca was nice too and brasov was ok. Bucharest was like a lot of big cities and has a lot of problems (esp. with stray dogs) but is worth visiting too. Timisoara looks lovely but we didn't have time to visit.

Forgot to mention that the average price of an Ursus beer while I was there was 80p across the country. I understand that the price is now £1 or more.

PolishBigSpender

cro-magnon wrote: »

I was in Poland last year and it wasn't as cheap as I'd hoped but I was in Gdansk which I understand is the most expensive city after Warsaw. A beer was about £2 - £3. The food was good though.

Bear in mind that I mainly stick to touristy places in capital cities so it will be cheaper in the smaller towns. Also be aware that if you are vegetarian then your choices will be limited in all these countries.

To be honest, you were paying tourist prices in tourist trap places. Poland simply isn't that expensive - in my favourite Italian restaurant, located two minutes walk from the very centre of my city, I can get a two course meal with wine for two for less than 8 pounds.

I had a beer yesterday in the main square of my city - and it cost me the equal of just over 1 pound. It's perfectly possible to get beer for less than 80p if you go slightly off the main square. Krakow and Warsaw are no different - if you only go to the places with the best marketing and image, you'll pay the price - but many, many places are vastly cheaper.

Of course, if you only stick to foreign beers that you know and only eat in places with English menus - then you will pay the price. But it is perfectly possible to enjoy Poland on as little as 30 pounds a day - including food and a decent amount of alcohol

Nordictat2

Finland is by far NOT the cheapest!

Been to Poland and wasn't that into the country out of all my travelings around Europe but I have to say their food is priced well and meat is cheap! So if you want to shop for your food and cook/grill it yourself that's a good option heh.

Out of your choices though..I would go to Hungary. Useful link for ya..
https://www.europe-cities.com/en/660/hungary/eating-out/dishes/

spiritus

Nordictat2 wrote: »

Finland is by far NOT the cheapest!

Been to Poland and wasn't that into the country out of all my travelings around Europe but I have to say their food is priced well and meat is cheap! So if you want to shop for your food and cook/grill it yourself that's a good option heh.

Out of your choices though..I would go to Hungary. Useful link for ya..
www.europe-cities.com/en/660/hungary/eating-out/dishes/

where did you visit in Poland out of interest ?

markandkate

Went to Prague and Budapest and the best you can say about the food is that it is hearty and cheap. My friend said that if they found a lettuce the only thing they would do with it is make a dumpling from it! The beer is good and cheap in the Czech republic and Hungary has very good cheap wine

123oleary

finland is expensive for beer but other living costs such as hotels, supermarket shopping and public transport are reasonable.
hungary is pretty cheap and the restaurants are very good. drink the local beers and try the local dishes to keep costs down. to eat and drink western costs more. go to places with the menu printed in the native language - the wait staff can usually speak some and usually very good english and will be happy to translate. most east european bars and restaurants serve better qaulity and value meals than your typical english food pub.